Oil switch



G. CAMERON.

OIL SWITCH.

APPucATmN man Aue.2. 1918.

2 SHEETS*SHEET l.

',Zzvenor.

Crim Nf @uff Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

. formed with the flat supporting plate, `by' PATENT OFFICE.

emrah ts'rarmsgs GORDON CAMERON, or WOLLASTON, MASsAoHUsnTTs, AsSIGNon 4'.rosisiiins B.

coNnrr, Jn., or ianooxmivn, iviiissiioHUSETTs.

OIL SWITCH.

To 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, GORDON CAMERON, a subject ofthe King ot Great Britain, residing at Volla'ston, in the county of Norfolk and State 'oflvlassa'chusetta have in vented an Improvement in Oil Switches, of which the following is a specii'cation. 1'

\ My invention relates to oil switches.'

It is common practice to construct the `:trames of oil switches of cast ironor other magnetic material, for use when the current controlled by the switch does not exceed a certainmoderate amount, lin which case the cast iron frame Serves satis'factorilyto support the Switch structure and does not 'heat unduly.` Vhen, however, current densities in excess of this limit are used, the eddy current and hysteresis losses in the iron frame are very appreciable, and cause the frame to become unduly heated. For this reason thev supporting frame Afor the switch structure is usually made of a non-magnetic material such, forinstance, as brass or Some other alloy. The non-magnetic material, which must of 4necessity be employed, is however relatively'costly in comparisonwith cast iron, and it is therefore desirable that no more "of this alloy be used than is necessary. 4 y

4The supporting frame is usually formed of a flat plate Structure from which the oil receptacle depends, and through which the switch leads are inserted to make connection with the switch contact members immersed in the oil of the container or containers. A supporting bracket is 'usually integrally means of which' the switch structure 'may be secured to a convenient support. `Inasmuch as vthe eddy current and l'iysteresis losses orcnrin the immediate `vicinityo'f the switch leads ,as they pass through the plate, it serves nogOod purpose to iorm this eX- `tended bracket of non-magnetic material, as

it is'relatively unaffected by the currentin the switch leads and component parts of the switch Structure.

Consequently, an object of my invention is in the provision of a supporting plate for the switch structure 'formed of non-mag netic material by means of which the various losses due to high current densities may be reduced, and to form the supporting bracket for the plate separate from the plate and of a relatively cheap metal such as cast iron,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Application filed August 2, 1913. Serial No. 247,930.

` and to Secure thebracket and the plate togethei as a single `unit by any convenient' means. By. this, means I provide non-mag netic material only whereit is needed,`and forni other lparts `of the structure of magnetrc materiahs'ueh as cast iron, thus re'- ducing the cost of the supporting plate to a minimum, and at the Sametime providing adequate protection against losses due to high current values in the Switch structure.

A further Object of my invention is to Secure the operating'members of the switch tothe separate Switch frame supporting bracket, whereby the alloy switch frame is free from all links `or levers that may be employed to move the switch brushes. Such an arrangement has as advantage in that but one size or bracket need be employed for several different sizes of Switches, whereby the cost of the switch Supporting structure isf'considerably reduced over the cost of a switch supporting structure in` which thebracket isintegrally formed` with the supportingy plate.

Vitl'i a switch of the type described, in

which the component parts of the switch structure are arranged on and depend from a Supporting plate into 'a' receptacley for oil suspended beneath the plate, said. plate being provided with an extended bracket by means ofwhich it may be secured to suptermediate plate between thev bracket and the pipe structure, the lgrooves being oi? such shape as to partially surround the pipes composing the structure, said plate alsoA having a flat face to engage with the corresponding flat face of the bracket. i'

A further object of my invention is in the provisionof the bracket of a Switch with a iiat portion, whereby it may be larranged against and securedto a flat'wall or other 'supporting structure, and to also provide said bracket with grooves, whereby 4the bracket may be arranged upon a pipe struc ture without the use o't other supplemen tary parts.

ln the commercial operation oit switches ot the type described it is etten not practical to mount the switches adjacent thc operating handles therefor, and whereas it is sometimes possible to arrange the switches on the back oit a switch board and extend an operating` link trom the switch. handleI on the :tace ot the board, through the board to the switch operating members, yet it is also desirable and necessary that the switch may be arranged on supports remote Ytroni the operating handle, either on a wall or on the licor, and the operating handle may be in the same room or in a room above or below the switch, and links ori-ots must be extended between the operating handle and the switch operating members.

The operating members, must, theretore, be arranged. to operate the switch when the link connecting the members with the operating handle extends downward from above, upward trom below, or directly in line with the operating members. In the provision ot the operating members Ytor the switch arranged tor operation lrom any convenient position, it has heretolore been neces sary to provide special parts tor the switch operating structure, which can only be used with a certain direction o'l" movement of the operating link or rod, and must be removed and replaced by others ot different term or structure for opei'ation from a rod movable in another direction. This results in the necessity for keeping in stock a number of various parts or' the switch operating structure which are comparatively intrequently used, and which, when the switch is installed, may become lost and cannot be easily replaced.

Consequently, a further object oi my invention is in the provision o't` switch operating members which are capable ot transmitting .movement oit the operating rod troni any o'l the three above mentioned directions to the movable n'ieinbers ot the switch to cause their proper operation, whereby there .is no necessity tor interchange and substitution ot various parts ot the switch Operating members.

Fig. l is a side elevation ot an oil switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View ot Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a. detail of the switch bracket and operating mechanism arranged ttor operation from a horizontal direction.

Fig. 4t is a detail ot a switch operating member arranged for operation from a point below the switch.

Fig. 5 is a detail ot the switch bracket and operating mechanism arranged 't'or operation from a point above the switch.

Fig. G is a plan View ot the switch sup port bracket.

-ranged at the extremity of switch leads l5.

Fig. T is an end View of theiswitch plate.

As here shown, the switch is arranged and supported i:'rom the switch plate l0, which may be formed oit a 1ion.-niagnetic materia] such as brass or other alloy. The stationary switch elements ll are arranged on insulated bushings l2 beneath said iframe l0, and extend beneath the oil contained in the separate oil containers 13. Said containers are suitably supported by bolts .let from the switch plate l0, and said plate thereby terms a cover lor the oil receptacles.

rllhe stationary switch members 1l are ar- S0 which extend through the switch plate l0 and are insulated therefrom by suitable bushings 16. The movable switch elements or brushes 17 are arranged in the oil receptacles beneath the stationary switch meinbers, and are arranged on insulating rods 18 depending from a common cross bar lf) arranged above the supporting plate l t). Said bar 19 is provided with lugs Q0, by means ot which connection is made to the switch operating members.

The supporting plate l0 is 'l'ornied with strengthenirrg ribs 2l, which imite to 'term an upright portion Q9 to which the supporting bracket 23 is arranged to be secured. a5 Said bracket is ianged Yfor strength, and comprises a 'flat portion 2l ada'ijitcd to be secured to the corresponding portion 22 ot the plate l() by .means of suitable bolts 25, and is also `formed with a loot portion 2G.

Said ilioot portion 26, as here shown, is formed with two 'tlat Faces 27, by means oit which the bracket and switch may be securely fastened to a fiat surface, as indicated at 28, which may be a wall or switch board. Said fiat portions 27 are also `formed with grooves therein, which are adapted to receive and. partially surround the pipes 3() ot a traine structure, to which it is adapted to bersecureifl by bolts 3l.

By the provision. olf the 'loot portion QV) with a [lat surface and also with a groove portion, the switch may be mountcd leither upon a. ldat switch board or wall, or upon a pipe structure without the necessity Ytor the einijiloyment ol.'Y any auxiliary parts or members. Two parallel spaced apart tl anges serve to connect the foot portion 26 with the tlat portion Qt ot the bracket, and links are pi'vo'ted thereto by pin 34, and extend 120 to the ears Q0 on the switch bar 1.9, and are pivotally secured thereto by the pin 35.

The switch bracket is termed with a lug 36, which extends :from the liat portion plate, and a link :37 oit a toggle is pivoted thereto 125 at 38. The other link 39 ot said tog le is pivoted to the link 32:3 at Lil-O, and said links are pivoted together at Lil. Said toggle forms means whereby the links Si?) maybe moved about their pivot to move the llfl movable `switch members 17 into or away from Contact with theystationary switch members 11. i j

The switch` operating member, formed of two flat plates 42, shaped in substantially triangular form, is pivoted vto theA bracket 23 by kmeans of the pin 43, and is maintained in position onsaid pin between the lianges 32 of said bracket by means of spacing washers or rollers 44. A' link` 45 is connected by means of a pin 4G to said operating member, 42, and the other end'oii said link is connected bythe pivot41 to the toggle. A movement of said operating nmember y42 thereby serves to movesaid toggleto operate the switch members. .g f

Said operating member 42 is provided with two holes 47 and 48 therein, by means of which connection may be made to the plate with an operating rod extended between the switch and the switch operating handle, remotely positioned from the switch.

As shown in Figs. l and 3, the operating rod 49 is secured by a suitable pin in the hole 48 of the operating member, and is arranged for horizontal movement. A movement of said rod to the right in Fig. 1 serves to straighten the toggle lformed. of links 37 and 39, to thereby move the link 33 into position shown in the dotted line of Fig. 3, to move the members 17 into contact with the stationary switch members, to thereby close the switch. A movement of said rod 49 to the left serves to open the toggle to permit the movable switch members to return to their open position.

lVhen the switch operating rod 49 `is eX tended upwardly from beneath the switch structure, connection is made with the operating member 42 at 47, as shown in Fig. 4, instead of at 48, as previously described. When connected lin this manner a downward movement of said rod 49 serves to straighten the toggles to thereby close the switch, and an upward movement of said i rod serves to open the switch. Vhen the operating rod "49 is downwardly extended from above the switch, said operating member 42 is disconnected from pivotal engagement with the bracket 23 by the removal of the pivot pin 43, and said member is reversed in position and again pivoted to said bracket by means of a pinextended through holes 50 in said ilanges 32, as shown in Fig. 5.

The downwardly extended operating rod 49 is then pivoted at 47 to said member 42. In this arrangement an upward movement of the said rod 49 serves to move the switch operating mechanism into the position shown in the dotted line to close the switch, and a movement of the rod in a reverse sense causes the operating mechanism to open the switch.

l/Vith the provision of the operating member,42. arranged with` l`means for 1 connecting the ,switch operating rod theretofat diiierent points, andwithvmeans wherebythe operat 4switch rod l4,9 .in itsvarious positions to .close the switch, `it iswseen thatbut aI single` operating' nmember 42 is required to provide means whereby theswitch may be operated by-'an `operating rod extended from theswitch inany ,desirabledirectionr f n ``I claims-w y 1 i `v`1'.y In an electric switch,` a` switch supporting member having a portion adapted to support the component parts of the switch and an extended bracket portion formed of a material dissimilar to that composing said supporting portion, said bracket portion being independent of the supporting portion of said member but secured thereto to form a unitary switch supporting member.

2. In anelectric switch, a switchsupport-` ing member having a portion Yformed of non- .magnetic material adapted to support the component parts of the switch and having openings therethrough fory the passage of' the switch leads, and an extended bracket portion by means of which the switch may be secured to asupport, said bracket portion being formed of a material dissimilar to that composing said supporting portion and independent of the non'magnetic por tion but secured thereto to form a unitary switch supporting member.

3. In an electric switch, a switch supporting member having a substantially flat portion formed of a non-magnetic material adapted to support the component parts of the switch and an extended bracket portion formed of a material dissimilar to that com* posing said supporting portion secured `thereto to form a unitary switch supporting member.

4. An electric switch having operating` mechanism including an operating member arranged for movement in one direction to close the switch and in the opposite direction to open the switch, a second member arranged to be connected with said first member in a plurality o'l" angularly ditl'erent posi- `tions also arranged for connection with an ranged for removable pivotal connection at a plurality of places on it With an operating rod, whereby said member .may be disconnected' from said bracket and re-arrangecl and again pivotally connected thereto in a diiferent position and the operating rocl clisconnected and reconnected from a dilferent angle to said member in its rre-arranged position' and the Switch arranged :for operation. In testimony' whereof, l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence ol two subscribing witnesses.

G'aoRDoN oAMnRoN.

lVitnesses:

M. H. CAMERON, H. B. DAVIS. 

